Today’s Colts Notebook comes to you live from 9398 Bring the Heat Blvd, but you’ll have to keep reading to find out what on earth that means.  We’ll look at how the Texans’ coach is catching some heat despite being extremely successful this season.  Also on tap, Mathis and Wayne’s leap of faith, Luck in a snowstorm, and something about a bell cow. It's Notebook time. 

Behind Enemy Lines: Are the Texans Too Conservative on Offense?

Despite their success, both the Colts and Texans have taken some heat this season for how they run their offenses.  However, the reasoning for each couldn't be more different.  For as much as Colts Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians and Quarterback Andrew Luck have been questioned for what is perceived as a hyper-aggressive passing attack, Houston Head Coach Gary Kubiak has taken criticism for being very conservative and maybe even a little old-fashioned on offense. 

Much of the criticism of the Colts offensive philosophy centers on how it exposes one of their weaknesses, the offensive line.  Should their pass protection improve, it is hard to imagine fans continuing to clamor for more short drops, check downs, and quick passes (see: almost every pass by Peyton Manning and Tom Brady).  With elite offensive line play and another year under Luck’s belt, the Colts’ offense should hum along rather nicely.

Yes, the title changed today.  Bonus points if you know what movie it's from (and, don't worry, this writer doesn't condone anything that was said in that movie).

The Colts Notebook is back.  Today, we’ll talk about the epitome of the anti-rebuild mindset, pass protection, playing the starters, and the potential end of the Dwight Freeney Era in Indy.  As usual, all quotes come from the Indianapolis Colts PR Department.  Here we go:

The Win Now Mentality Continues

During Wednesday’s media session, Chuck Pagano, while talking about Andrew Luck and other players being worn down, said, “I’m the only guy that had a little bounce in their step this morning because I’ve been lying around for three months and I’ve had plenty of coffee.”

When he was asked about Pagano’s tongue-in-cheek statement, Antoine Bethea ended up revealing a little something extra about the kind of mindset the coach has instilled in this young Colts team.  “Yeah (laughs). That’s what he said earlier, ‘I’ve got a little bit of step with laying around.’ We’ve been out there but like I said, it’s just good to have him back, laughing, joking and cracking jokes. It’s just good to have him back there. Of course, at the end of the year, guys are banged up now but we’ve got to fight through that and go out here and get that ring and bring another ring back to Indy.”

It's hardly breaking news, but with most of the state snowed under, I thought you could all use a fun pick-me-up.

For the past several years, Colts fan Michael Dockins has been assembling a t-shirt collection from all the great moments in Indianapolis Colts' history.

The whole thing started when his wife got sick of all his shirts commemerating this division championship or that MVP season.

Michael decided to make a quilt out of all the shirts. The only problem was that he didn't have all the shirts he needed.

His wife's prodding lead him to do the opposite of what she intended. He started buying more shirts.

It was a record-setting day for Andrew Luck in Kansas City as the Colts earned their 10th win and clinched a playoff spot in the AFC.

Luck’s performance was up and down, including a season-worst streak of 10 straight incomplete passes in the second half. But that was immediately followed up with six straight completions, including the game-winning touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne.

That’s the kind of season it has been for Luck. He makes the big plays, and his seventh game-winning drive ties the regular season record. It has only been done 11 times in NFL history, including twice by Peyton Manning, so the Colts are used to this.

They may not resemble the efficient Peyton Manning machine, but the Colts still know how to pull out an improbable victory, beating the Chiefs despite allowing 352 rushing yards and being outrushed by 262 yards. That has never happened in NFL history before.

Also never happening before is a quarterback taken No. 1 overall getting to 10 wins and the playoffs. Luck’s game-winning drives alone match the most wins (Sam Bradford’s 7 in 2010) any No. 1 pick has ever had.

Let’s examine how the record-setting day played out, and especially what went wrong on that 0-for-10 streak.

Drive No. 1

Drive Stats: 15:00 left (1st quarter), tied 0-0. 3 plays, 9 yards (three-and-out punt).

Starting to sound like a broken record, but it was a three and out to start the game again. Vick Ballard picked up two yards, Dwayne Allen was open for a little 5-yard gain, then the Colts tried to run a pick play to convert the 3rd and 3. But the Chiefs were not fooled by the two receivers running out routes, and Donnie Avery was met by Eric Berry and a crowd of defenders a yard short of the first down. The Colts had to punt.

With the Colts' 20-13 win over the Chiefs on Sunday, the Cols became just the second team to win double digit games one season after lossing 14 or more, joining the 2008 Miami Dolphins. 

But that wasn't the only record on the day, in fact, the Colts got several records in the win. Since it's Christmas Eve, and it's a busy time for us all, I just wanted to give you a few extra tidbits to brighten up your Christmas Eve. Some of these are pretty well known, others may not be. 

We're lucky.

Is there a better way to describe Colts fans? With their 20-13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, the Colts moved their record to 10-5 (their 12th time winning 10 or more games in the past 14 years) and clinched a playoff berth (their 12th playoff berth in, coincidentally, the last 14 years). A year after going 2-14, after an off-season in which the owner, Jim Irsay, fired the General Manager and Head Coach, after he cut Peyton Manning and a handful of talented veteran players, the Colts were able to make the playoffs.

And how about that owner? For all of the grief Irsay is given for his quirky personality, is there anyone Colts fans would rather have own the Colts? In a climate that sees sports owners fighting to pocket more cash, Irsay isn't afraid to aggressively spend to the salary cap. He isn't afraid to hand out up-front cash via signing bonuses. And while he has a vision for the team, he hires men to execute that vision, and then gets out of the way and lets them do their job. In the 16 seasons since Irsay took over full control of the team in 1997, the Colts have had only 4 losing seasons while making the playoffs 12 times.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne (87) catches a 7-yard touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. The Colts won 20-13. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

op·por·tun·ism [op-er-too-niz-uh m, -tyoo-] noun

1. the policy or practice, as in politics, business, or one's personal affairs, of adapting actions, decisions, etc., to expediency or effectiveness regardless of the sacrifice of ethical principles.  (Source: Dictionary.com)

Very applicable apart from the disregard of ethics part. 

pro·fes·sion·al·ism

[pruh-fesh-uh-nl-iz-uh m] noun: 1. professional character, spirit, or methods.  2. the standing, practice, or methods of a professional, as distinguished from an amateur.

It Doesn't Have to be Pretty

Today, with 0:49 left in the first half, and the Colts driving toward what would end up being another Adam Vinatieri field goal, Andrew Luck broke the NFL record for passing yards by a rookie.  There was no celebration, no pats on the back or hugs from teammates, not even a subdued fist pump, just a timeout to stop the clock in a crucial scoring situation with a tenuous lead.  Luck jogged to the sideline to strategize on getting into scoring position on a day where moving the chains had been difficult.  For the Colts, and for Luck, it’s about winning and accepting nothing less.      

Just a few hours earlier, in the fourth quarter of the Falcons-Lions game, Calvin Johnson broke Jerry Rice’s single season receiving yardage record.  A wild celebration ensued.  While it was certainly a bigger accomplishment than a rookie record (and a home game), the Lions were down 31-16 late in the fourth quarter.  It was garbage time. 

It could be argued that the Lions just needed something to celebrate, and is more than a little valid.  However, there is no denying the Colts, and their impressive rookie’s professional attitude.  Just tune everything else out and win.  This attitude is why the Indianapolis Colts are in the playoffs, while other clubs with seemingly similar talent levels are fighting for, well, pride and roster spots right now. 

The first half today was a statistical blowout.  Before the touchdown drive and final, icing kneel downs, Indianapolis had been outgained 507-202 by the talented but inconsistent Chiefs.  The Colts had little to no pass protection and not much to speak of in the running game early on.  But, somehow, they would be in position to seize the day at the end.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) fumbles the ball as he is hit by Indianapolis Colts defensive end Clifton Geathers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. The Colts recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Stay tuned for our full recap within the hour. 

Outgained by 305 yards before their final two drives, the Colts pulled a rabbit out of their hat in Kansas City to come up with a victory.

First Impressions

-A win is a win.  The better team didn’t play better, but they did enough to win the game. 

-The Defense had a rough day but took advantage of every opportunity that came their way. 

-Jerrell Freeman is not a man I want tackling me when he’s angry…or ever, for that matter. 

-The Colts need to do something about their abysmal pass protection.  That kind of thing is going to shorten Andrew Luck’s career if it continues. 

-Dwight Freeney fought through some blatant holds in this game. 

-The Colts are in the playoffs, but the downward trend in offensive production puts a damper on the excitement. 

-As I type this, Cincinnati is also clinching the playoffs.

Full recap is on the way.

The Colts beat Ron Winter and the Chiefs 20-13 today to move to 10-5 AND CLINCH A PLAYOFF BERTH! Join us for a special holiday recap!

Here's your open thread for the Colts and Chiefs.

Remember to follow all your favorite Colts Authority writers and "honored alumni" on Twitter as well:

Nate Dunlevy, Greg Cowan, Todd Smith, Kyle Rodriguez, Scott Kacsmar, Luke Dunlevy, Laura Calloway, Brent Fatig, Lou Pin, Josh Boeke, and Marcus Dugan

Here's the Colts Gameday Follow list.

We'll have post-game coverage here on CA, but also check out Todd, Kyle and me at Bleacher Report today as well.

Also, catch me on 1070 the Fan at 8 pm with Jersey Johnny after the game.